By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer
Republican Art Coday notes that 32nd Legislative District voters “cast their ballots almost exclusively along party lines” in the November election.
Coday, who lost to Democrat Cindy Ryu by a 61 percent to 39 percent margin, said Monday, “Considering the diversity of the six candidates involved, it is highly likely that the uniformity of results is explained by partisanship.”
While Ryu defeated Coday 61-39 for an open House seat, Democrat Maralyn Chase defeated Republican David Baker 60-39 for the State Senate seat, and incumbent Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi defeated Republican Gary Gagliardi by a 64-35 margin.
Coday added that voter sentiment correlated more strongly with party affiliation than it did with the issues.
“This observation is based on the fact that voters in King and Snohomish counties voted in favor of Initiative 1053 which would make it more difficult to raise taxes because it would require a two-thirds majority of the Washington State Legislature to do so,” he noted, “Similarly, they voted against Initiative 1098 which would have imposed a state income tax.
“Yet in spite of the apparent majority preference among voters against tax increases and the income tax in particular, the majority of voters in the 32nd Legislative District voted for candidates who support high levels of taxation, support a state income tax, or at the very least who affiliate with the Democratic Party in Washington, the party committed to perpetual growth in government, government spending, and taxation.
“For example, my Democratic opponent was very outspoken that she supported imposition of a state income tax. By contrast, I was very outspoken that I opposed imposition of a state income tax.
“For the time being, our state Constitution will protect the voting majority against legislative tax increases and a state income tax because for two years it prevents the Legislature from changing or overturning the initiative. But after two years, the Legislature will once again be free to disregard voter intent and do as it pleases.
“Regarding the two-thirds requirement necessary to raise taxes, the people have been forced to pass this by initiative multiple times because the Legislature appears indifferent to the will of the voters.
“My message to voters is simple. If you are serious about wanting fiscal responsibility from your state government, including greater efficiency, less waste, less fraud and abuse, and greater accountability for how your tax dollars are spent and the results you get from government, pay more attention to the candidates you support.
“The very fact that it has proved necessary to rein in a fiscally reckless Washington State Legislature and Governor multiple times in recent years through ballot initiatives is proof that many of you are voting for candidates who do not share your views on fiscal matters.
“For those of you who vote mostly or exclusively Democrat, you might wish to consider the inescapable conclusion: Your party may not adequately represent your values.”
Despite his political differences with Ryu, Coday thanked her for her willingness to serve.
Was this meant to be a concession? Or is Coday still running? Someone should tell this man the election is over -
ReplyDeleteIt seems not only is Cody "still running" but SAN continutes to provide the platform for his campaign, giving us endless quotes of his wrong-headed, yet arrogant talking points and excuses.
ReplyDeleteHe lost by a landslide and thank God for that. The man needs to get over himself, but probably won't. Hopefully SAN won't print any more of his condescending rhetoric.
I used two sentences of this in my Enterprise column (along with quotes from at least a dozen candidates from four districts.
ReplyDeleteI've used full statements in the ShorelineAreaNews from Baker, Gagliardi (and from Cindy Ryu).
Coday's statement was longer than most.
Others pointed out the irony of our anti-tax votes while we vote for candidates who support those taxes.
He's right about the consistent D-R breakdown in the vote.
In the Enterprise, I paraphrased that in two sentences. I should have done here.
Here's what I wrote in the Enterprise:
ReplyDelete• Republican legislative candidates Art Coday, Bob McCaughan, David Preston and Elizabeth Scott see some irony in their defeats to Democrats at a time when voters also were voting to curtail taxes that those Democrats supported.
• Coday lost to Democrat Cindy Ryu in the 32nd District including Woodway and south Edmonds. He said Monday that voters in the District had uniformly given Democrats 60-64 percent of the vote despite great diversity among the candidates.
Good grief. Does he wonder why he lost when he talks like that to the people he actually wants to vote for him.
ReplyDeleteI guess if I really wanted to be belittled and condescended to, I might consider voting for him.
During the campaign, I talked to him and exchanged e-mail with him. He didn't come off then the way he does here
ReplyDelete